Saturday News, July 14th

Convenience Store Robbers Arrested

(Sioux City) -- Sioux City Police have arrested four suspects they believe were responsible for the robbery at a convenience store on the West side. Sarg's Mini Mart located at 2329 W. 2nd Street in Sioux City was robbed on Friday morning at about 9:45 a.m. No one in the business received any phyisical injuries, although it was reported the suspects were armed. Police are not looking for any other suspects in the incident. The investigation continues and suspect names and photographs are being withheld at this time pending detectives showing photograph lineups to witnesses.

Sioux City Man Guilty of Vehicular Homicide

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - A Sioux City man is charged with vehicular homicide and drunken driving in an accident that killed a passenger last winter. Eighteen-year-old Oscar Ramirez was charged on Friday. Authorities say he was driving an SUV that crashed on Jan. 30 in Sioux City.

A passenger, 18-year-old Nino Segura, of Sioux City, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.

Ramirez appeared in Woodbury County District Court on Friday. An arraignment is set for July 27.

A telephone call to his attorney, Priscilla Forsyth, was not returned Friday afternoon.

Sioux County Fair Begins On Saturday

(Sioux Center) -- The Sioux County Youth Fair gets underway today at Sioux Center. Judging of 4-H Static exhibits and fashion revue will start at 8:30 this morning. The Northwest Iowa Horse show is slated to start at 9:00 a.m. The Open Class exhibits will be entered at 11:30 a.m. The 4-H Cow-calf show and 4-H feeder calf show will begin at 12:00 noon, and later this afternoon is the Open Class Beef Show and the Open Class Lamb Show. Meanwhile at Cherokee, its the third day for the Cherokee County Fair. Today is Lady's Day and Kid's Day on the Midway. Tonight's entertainment will be the Two-wheel and Four-wheel Drive pickup truck pull. Also today, is the second day of the Merrill Pioneer Days. Some of the events scheduled include the Antique Tractor Ride, the downtown

sidewalk flea market, horse rides, and sand volleyball.

Man Arrested For Using Electric Cattle Prod on Girl

VINTON, Iowa (AP) - Authorities say an eastern Iowa man has been arrested for allegedly using a cattle prod on a teenage girl.

The Gazette (http://bit.ly/SjpOSS ) says the Benton County sheriff's office says 50-year-old Eric Kolsrud, of Shellsburg, is charged with assault causing bodily injury and contributing to the

delinquency of a minor.

Kolsrud is accused of a using a shocking device that's used on cattle on a 16-year-old following a dispute. Authorities say he also told a 15-year-old girl that she had to lie to officers if she

was asked about the incident.

Kolsrud's case is not on the online court system, and it's unclear if he has an attorney.

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Grassley Calls For Courts To Change Hawaiian Retreat

HONOLULU (AP) - Political controversy persists over a conference planned for federal judges on Maui, with two Republican senators calling for the event to be canceled or at least scaled back.

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa question the need to hold the August conference at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, with optional activities offered

including surfing lessons, snorkeling, yoga and Zumba dancing.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has said the gathering will be for serious business meetings and the venue is within the circuit's jurisdiction. The senators continue to say holding a conference in a "far-flung island paradise" is extravagant during a time of government budget cuts.

A spokesman for the circuit didn't immediately respond to the senators' latest letter on Friday.

Financial Investment CEO To Face Prison

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - A federal prosecutor says the chief executive of an Iowa-based brokerage firm carried out a $200 million fraud scheme that could land him in prison for years.

Deegan made the comment during Wasendorf's initial federal court appearance in Cedar Rapids on charges that he made false statements to financial regulators. Another hearing is scheduled for

Wednesday.

Wasendorf appeared healthy during the hearing. He'd been hospitalized after attempting suicide outside the company's headquarters on Monday.

Investigators say he admitted in a suicide note to carrying out an elaborate embezzlement scheme.

State Auditor and Treasurer Say IPERS Needs To Change

(Des Moines) -- The state's top two financial officials say it's time to re-establish upper limits or "caps" on the pension checks government employees draw from the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System. The system is commonly called IPERS (EYE-perz) and State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald is a voting member of the system's board of directors.

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In 1998, the legislature and the governor agreed to get rid of the limits or caps on pensions for teachers, local government workers and employees in state government.

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Fitzgerald advocates a cap that would limit a yearly IPERS pension to 60-thousand dollars. State Auditor Dave Vaudt (VOWT) supports that kind of a move and, in addition, Vaudt suggests some of the state government surplus should be used to shore up the pension system.

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Vaudt is quick to say "in the short term," the system is o.k., but it's time for state officials to start making plans for the future.

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Any changes in IPERS benefits must be approved by the legislature and the governor. Republicans in the House and Governor Branstad have talked about reducing taxes next year rather than using the state government surplus to shore up the state pension system as the auditor, who is a Republican, suggests. Vaudt and Fitzgerald, who is a Democrat, made their comments during taping of the "Iowa Press" program which airs on Iowa Public Television.